17 Apr 2013

6.8 quake recorded off PNG's northern coast

11:30 am on 17 April 2013

The U.S. Geological Survey says a strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 was recorded off the remote northern coast of Papua New Guinea at a depth of about 8 km.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii said in a statement there was no threat of a widespread tsunami from the quake, although it warned that earthquakes of that size could generate destructive tsunamis within 100 kilometres of the epicentre.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

In 1998, part of the northern coast of Papua New Guinea was devastated by a tsunami, generated by a 7.0 quake, that killed around 2,200 people.